Display device



J. G. WHITNEY DISPLAY DEVICE Sept. 3, 1929.

Original Filed April 2, 1928 Patented Sept. 3, 1929.

PATENT OFFICE.

UNITED STATES JOHN G. WHITNEY,

DISPLAYv Application filed April 2, 1928, Serial My invention relates toimprovements in display devices and more particularly to an adjustabledisplay device.

An object of my invention is to provide a display device which may beadjustably varied in height.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device of the classdescribed which may be placed within a showcase or the like and whichwill allow merchandise contained thereon to be removed therefrom withoutremoving the device from the showcase and on which merchandise isreadily accessible.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device for the displayingof neckwear, muliiers or like merchandise wherein the display rack maybe adjusted at any angle to better show the merchandise.

Another object'o my invention is to provide a device of the classdescribed which may be securely attached to the inside of the showcase.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device of the classdescribed having a display rack which may be altered to hold vmore orless merchandise as circumstances require.

Another object of my invention is to provide an adjustable displaydevice which requires no tools to change the adjustment.

Another object or my invention is to provide a device that may be easilyand economically manufactured. f f

These and other objects of my invention will become more apparent byreference to the following description, wherein reference will be had tothe accompanying drawings forming a part or this specification.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of the device of my invention, showing indotted lines an alternate position of the rack and support;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the device of my invention; and

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the base and tilting mechanism.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like parts are designated by likereference characters, I provide a supporting pedestal which may comprisea base 1, of generally rectangular shape which has an upwardly extendingflange 2-centrally disposed and running longitudinally most of itslength. Pivotally fastened to thel flange by a pin 3 is a rack supportwhich comprises a clevis shaped housing 0F ELYRIA, OHIO.

DEVICE.

No. 266,855. Renewed May 18,v 1929.

5 having a pair or parallel downwardly ex tending arms 6 and 7 withaligned transverse bores at 8 to allow the pivot pin 3 to extendtherethrough. The housing 5 is provided with a pair of bores 12 and 13extending longitudinally therethrough and parallel to each other. Thehousing extends upwardly to form a tubular extension 9 into which istelescoped a tube 10 and held therein by a pin 11 or by soldering or thelike. The tube is provided with a collar 14 and set screw l5, at itsupper end. Telescoped within the upper end of the tube 10 and adapted tobe held securely by the collar and set screw is a tubular member 16,provided with a clevis 17 at its upper end adapted to pivotally hold abar 30.

Through the bore 13 is disposed a rod 19 having an annular collar 20spaced a short distance from its end. Between the collar and a reducedend 21 of the bore is provided a helical spring 22 disposed about therod and which holds the end 19of the rod in springpressed relationagainst the periphery of the upstanding flange 2, which periphery may beirregularly curved and is provided with a plurality of notches, such as23 and 24;, to engage the end of the rod and prevent rotation or' theupright supports.

On the upper end or the rod 19 is telescoped a tube 25 having at itslower end a collar 26 and set screw 27 and at its other end a clevis 2Sadapted to engage the bar 30 at a point spaced from the clevis 17. Thecollar and set screw provide means to securely hold the rod and the tubeagainst relative movement. rfhe rack comprises a substantiallyrectangular outside frame held by the bar 30 which is of substantiallyrectangular cross section and is provided with apertures 31 and 32adjacent the opposite ends thru which the frame is projected. Aplurality 0I evenly spaced notches or slots 33 are provided intermediatethe ends of the bar.

On each of the sides running parallel to the notched center bar are aseries or' apertures or sockets 34 which align with the notches in thecenter bar which are adapted to retain a plurality of rods 35 which areheld therein by engaging the slots 31 in the supporting bar and thesockets 34 in the frame. The rods may be fastened permanently there inby welding or soldering, or they may be set in loosely in order toremove the salne when it is desired to decrease the number of rods, oreach alternate rod may be permanently fastened and the intermediate rodsremovable.

The supporting bar 30 is provided with a pair of spaced aperturesrunning transversely through the lower edge thereof intermediate theends and adapted to receive pins 36 and 37 which pass through theclevises 17 and 28, respectively, holding the rack pivotally to theupper end of the supporting tubes. l n

Vhen it is desired to change the position of the rack, the edge 38 ofthe rack is pressed downward. This acts as a lever with the pivot 36 asthe fulcrum and lifts'the rod 19 against pressure of the spring 22,releasing the end of the rod from engagement with the notches andallowing the housing with the attached tubes and rods to be pivotallymoved forward or rearward. e

The contour of the upstanding flange 2 is such that the camming actionresulting from e the rod riding on the periphery of the flange causesthe rack to assume a horizontal position when it is pivoted rearwardly,and may be varied to cause the rack to assume any desired positionrelative to the horizontal.

The rack is adapted to be placed within showcases or the like, notshown, and fastened by screws in the base.l l\/Iercl'iandise7 such asneck ties, scarfs or the like, to be `displayed may be hung upon thecross bars .35. 'Ihe angle at which the rack sets in its forwardposition, is such that the ties may be all seen and their texture andpattern observed. When it is desired to remove a tie from the rack it isoperated as previously described, which brings the rack substantiallyout of the showcase into the horizontal position wherefrom themerchandise may be readily selected. The telescopable construction ofthe upright supporting members with the collars and set screws allowsthe height and the inclination of the rack to be varied.

Although I have shown the upstanding Hange 2 having a pair of aperturesto engage the end of the rod 19, I contemplate a plurality of suchapertures .which may be disposed at various points on the periphery ofthe flange to hold the rack in various inclined positions, or the edgesof the housing, such as shown at 40 may be utilized as a stop and thecamming surface 4l used merely to control the angle of the rack.

Having thus described my invention in a specific embodiment, I am awarethat numerous and extensive departures may be made from the embodimentherein illustrated and describedwithout departing from the spirit of myinvention.

I claim:

l. A device for the displaying of merchandise comprising in combinationa base having an upstanding flange, a tubular housing provided with aclevis at its lower end, a plurality of upwardly extending tubularmembers and a rack, said members pivotally holding said rack by theirupper ends, one of said members being rigidly held at its lower end bysaid housing, the other upright member being held telescopable throughsaid housing, spring means to hold said second member in spring pressedrelation against said upright flange.

2. A device for the displaying of merchandise,y comprising a pedestal,said pedestal comprising a base member and a supporting post hingedlyjoined at one end to theybase, a merchandise supporting frame memberhingedlyjoined intermediate its ends to the other end of the post, meansfor retaining the base, post and frame in any one of a plurality ofpredetermined angularly adjusted positions, comprising a rod hingedlyjoined to one of the members, a spring causing said rod to be pressedagainst the other member, said other member comprising projectionsbetween which the end of said rod is adapted to be spring pressed.

3. A device for the display of merchandise comprising a merchandisesupporting top frame and a supporting pedestal therefor, said pedestalcomprising an upright post and a base, means for hingedly securing saidpost to said frame and base, a supporting rod hinged at its upperend tothe frame and eX- tending to the base, having its ends disposed inspaced relation to said post and engageablewith the base to restrainrelative hinging movements of the base and frame, and a com- Ypression,` spring continuously operative to press the end of the rodagainst the base, a bearing element for the rod rigidly supported by thelower portion of the post, said rod longitudinally reciprocable thereinand retaining said post `by said bearing element in a given klaterallyadjusted position by interengagement of the end of the rod and base.

4. A device for the display of merchandise comprising a merchandisesupporting top frame and ay supporting pedestal therefor, said pedestalcomprising an upright post and a base, means for hingedly securing saidpost to said fra-me and base, a rod hinged at its upper en d to theframe and extending to the base, having it-s ends disposed in spacedrelation to said post and engageable with the base to restrain relativehinging movements of the base and frame, and a compression springcontinuously operative to press the rod against the base to preventlateral movement of the rod relative to thebase,and means holding saidrod and post in predetermined laterally spaced relation, said basecomprising a no tched sector portion for engagement by said rod end toadapt the rod to hold the post in any one of a. plurality of diiferentlyadjusted angular positions relativeto the base.

V5. device for the display of merchandise comprising, a merchandisesupporting top frame and a supporting pedestal therefor,

a base, means for hingedly securing said post to said frame and base, asupporting rod hinged at its upper end to the frame and extending to thebase, having its ends disposed in spaced relation tosaid postandrengage- .able with the base to restrain relative hinging movementsof the base and frame, and a compression spring continuously operativeto press the rod against the base to prevent lateral movement of the rodrelative to the base, and means holding said rod and post inpredetermined laterally spaced relation, said rod adapted to be liftedfrom post retaining engagement with the base by manually rotative effortimparted to said frame to rotate it on its hinges in a direction so asto lift said rod, said spring adapted to restore said rod when themanual effort so exerted on the frame is relieved.

6. A device for the display of merchandise comprising a merchandisesupporting top frame and a supporting pedestal therefor, said pedestalcomprising an upright post and a base, means for hingedly securing saidpost to said frame and base, a supporting rod hinged at its upper end tothe frame and extending to the base, having its ends disposed in spacedrelation to said post and engage able with the base to restrain relativehinging movements of the base and frame, and a compression springcontinuously operative to press the rod against the base to preventlateral movement of the rod relative to the base,

' and means holding said rod and post in predetermined laterally spacedrelation, said post and rod each comprising a pair of relativelytelescopable extensible elements, and means to secure each pair ofelements rigidly together in a given extended position.

7. A device for the display of merchandise comprising a merchandisesupporting top frame and a supporting pedestal therefor, said pedestalcomprising an upright post and a base, means for hingedly securing saidpost to said frame and base, a supporting rod hinged at its upper end tothe frame and extending to the base, having its ends disposed in spacedrelation to said post and engageable With the 'base to restrain relativehinging movements of the base and frame, and a compression springcontinuously operative to press the rod against the base to preventlateral movement of the rod relative to the base, and means holding saidrod and post in predetermined laterally spaced relation, said framecomprising a rim and a plurality of parallel cross bars disposed Withinthe rim adapted to be rigidly secured at their ends to opposite portionsof the rim.

8. A device for the display of merchandise comprising a merchandisesupporting top frame and a supporting pedestal therefor, said pedestalcomprising an upright post and a base, means for hingedly securing saidpost to said frame and base, a supporting rod hinged at its upper end tothe frame and extending to the base, having its ends disposed f inspaced relation to said post and engageable With the base to restrainrelative hinging movements of the base and frame, and a conipressionspring continuously operative to press the rod against the base torprevent lateral movement of the rod relative to the base, and meansholding said rod and post in predetermined laterally spaced relation,said base comprising an intermediate upstanding flange, said postcomprising a clevis einbracing said flange, a clevis pin projectedthrough said clevis and the flange to form said hinge means for the postand base, said clevis comprising a laterally extending longitudinallybored portion adapted to receive the rod, said spring disposed Withinsaid bored portion and interposed between a portion of an end Wallthereof and an enlarfred lower portion of the rod.

9. A device for the display of merchandise comprising a merchandisesupporting top frame and a supporting pedestal therefor, said pedestalcomprising an upright post and a base, means for hingedly securing saidpost to said frame and base, and a link connected, at one end to theframe in spaced relation to the hinging means therefor, and at its otherend to the base, said link restraining hinging movement of the frame onthe post in one di` rection only.

l0. A device for the display of merchandise comprising a merchandisesupporting top frame and a supporting pedestal therefor, said pedestalcomprising an upright post and a base, means for hingedly securing saidpost to said frame and base, and a link connected, at one end to theframe in spaced relation to the hinging means therefor, and at its otherend to the base, said link restraining hinging movement of the frame onthe post in one direction only, said frame comprising a continuous framemember having end and side frame elements, said side frame elementsprovided With notched inner surfaces, the notches of the one sideelement being disposed in alignment With notches of the other sideelement, and a plurality of transverse rods supported by said sideelements each With its ends disposed in notches of an oppositelydisposed pair of the notches.

1l. A device for the display of merchandise comprising a merchandisesupporting top frame and a supporting pedestal therefor, said pedestalcomprising an upright post and a base, means for hingedly securing saidpost to said frame and base, and a link, connected, at one end to theframe in spaced relation to the hinging means therefor, and at its otherend to the base, said link restraining hinging movement of the frame onthe post in one direction only, said frame comprising a continuous framemember having end and side frame elements, said side frame elementsprovided With notched inner surfaces, the notches of the one sideelement loeinfnr disposd in alignment with notches of the other sideelement,

5 and a plurality of transverse rods supported by said side elementseach With its ends loosee ly removably disposed in notches of anoppositely disposed pair of the notches, and a. cross bar joining theend frame elements provided with a plurality of notches extending doWn-10l Wardly from its upper surface, said rods projected through saidcross bar notches. l In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my lsignature this 30th day of March, 1928.

JOHN G. WHITNEY.

